The global ISIS threat in historical context

The global ISIS threat in historical context// Pathways to Peace and Security. 2017. no 1(52) Special Issue: ADDRESSING TERRORISM, VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND RADICALIZATION (perspectives from Russia and the United States). Edited by Ekaterina Stepanova,. P. 77-90

Despite successful military operations against ISIS core in Mosul and Raqqah, the global threat posed by ISIS “provinces” beyond Syria and Iraq, but also by other groups that declared loyalty to ISIS and foreign fighters is unlikely to diminish in the near term. ISIS provinces already have been able to establish
an operational tempo that exceeds the historical precedent established by al-Qaeda. Other ISIS cells and affiliates worldwide have sustained a campaign against security forces and civilian targets. Much of their success can be attributed to the effectiveness of ISIS foreign fighters who not only participate in ISIS’ external operations, but have also taken on the role of logisticians and recruiters. Finally, foreign fighters linked to ISIS are likely to follow historical patterns that characterize foreign fighters and try to provide local recruits with increased guerrilla warfare and terrorist skills as well as establish new militant groups back home.